SMR family, it's lovely to be writing to you this week (you'll be stuck with me for the next few weeks!)

The lectionary readings for this Sunday are great- Romans 8: 26-39 and Matthew 13: 31-33,44-52 and whilst I don't want to give too many spoilers for my sermon on Sunday I am struck particularly by the parable of the mustard seed. 

The image above is a helpful reminder of just how small a mustard seed is. Just one of those seeds, Jesus says, is like the Kingdom of heaven; if we have faith even as small as that, God can still use it to grow something much bigger, stronger and nutritious. 

Here's what Jesus actually says: 

‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’

I have been reminded this week, once again, that we are consistently invited into a topsy turvy, upside-down kind of faith. The kingdom of heaven isn't compared to a massive grand beautiful looking tree- or one of the biggest seeds that we might think are better. No, it's a tiny mustard seed - hard to see if it's on its own and hard to loose. Jesus is telling us again here that the first will be last, the least will be the greatest. Where we usually think bigger is better, God sees the small, the seemingly insignificant and chooses that to demonstrate God's love and 'power'. 

This brings great comfort and relief to me. When I am feeling that my faith is small or even insignificant at times, God reminds me - and all of us- that it's enough. And, as the passage says, even more than enough! A small amount of faith becomes something more beautiful and greater when we offer it to God 'but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’ 

When we allow God to take the seemingly small offering we feel like we have, we forget that with growth, with love, it becomes something far bigger and better- and even a place where other's can come and share in that love and growth. 

Feeling like you have little to offer or little faith? Take heart, the readings this week are to remind you and all of us, that it's good to offer something small because God can do something big and beautiful through our little offering.

Laura Verrall-Kelly

27 July 2023